I’ve been living in the country, among picky kids and cowboys, for almost fourteen years. During that fourteen years, I have accumulated valuable knowledge about what people in my world will, and will not, eat.

They will not, for instance, eat poached Chilean sea bass. I can’t close my eyes and wish for something to be so that isn’t so. It just isn’t going to happen.

They will, 100% of the time and without hesitation, however, eat fried round steak.

(And I’ll let you in on a little secret: I will, too.)

Fried round steak is a magical delight: simple, easy to whip up in about 10 to 15 minutes, and so flavorful, you can’t even believe what you’re eating is a fried up piece of cheap beef. It tastes so darn good, and you can eat it fresh out of the skillet with a potato side dish, or smashed between two pieces of white bread, or (probably my favorite application) cold out of the fridge the next day.

Just give it a try.

Just once.

You’ll see what I mean.

This is how the meat is sold in my local grocery store. It’s called “Cube Steak” here.

Basically, what you need is tenderized round steak that’s been extra-tenderized and cut into neat, squarish pieces.

If you store doesn’t sell this, you can buy regular round steak, then pound it yourself using the pointy, spiked side of a mallet.

My mom used to do it that way.

Heat a skillet over medium heat, then add in enough canola oil to completely cover the surface of the pan.

Grab a dish or pie plate and add a cup or so of flour, some seasoned salt (whatever kind you like), and plenty of ground black pepper.

Stir it with a fork, assess the pepper content…

Then dump in more pepper.

Now, season both sides of the meat! Just salt and pepper will do.

Now, one by one, throw the pieces of seasoned steak into the flour mixture.

Turn it over…

Then throw more of the flour mixture over the top and pat-pat-pat with the fork in an effort to get as much flour stuck to the surface of the meat as you can.

Note that I do not want to take an egg wash/heavy breading approach here. I show that chicken fried steak method in my cookbook, and it’s delicious. But the beauty of this is the sheer simplicity—no worrying about mixing up eggs and milk—and a lighter texture and taste.

That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

Remove the meat…

Put it on a plate…

…And repeat until all the meat is coated in the flour mixture.

The oil in the pan is nice and hot now, so add 1 to 2 tablespoons of butter at the last minute. This’ll give the steak a little more of a golden-brown color…

And, well, it’s butter. You don’t always have to have a reason.

When the butter’s melted, add 3 to 4 pieces of steak. It should sizzle right away and continue sizzling as it fries.

If it doesn’t sizzle, the oil’s not hot enough.

Go ahead and dump any excess flour from the plate (not the pie pan—the plate where the coated pieces of steak sat) onto the pieces of steak.

Then let them cook until the sides start to appear nice and golden. This’ll take about two minutes.

Then flip ‘em on over!

Allow them to cook on the other side for about a minute.

You can’t know how good this smells! Round steak smells delicious when it’s cooking.

Believe me. I know these things.

When they’re done, remove the steaks from the pan and place them on a paper towel-lined plate so the excess oil will drain.

Feel free to dab the tops with a paper towel, too, if you’re a health nut.

And if you are, you’re probably not making this anyway.

Now, you can just serve these as they are on a plate with something like Smashed Potatoes…

You could spread the bread with Miracle Whip. But if you do, please don’t tell me about it.

For Miracle Whip is from Lucifer.

Sprinkle with plenty of black pepper.

Black pepper is a staple of everyday cooking in this part of the country. Ain’t no two ways about it.

Next comes the fried steak. (About 30 minutes has passed since I removed it from the pan because Marlboro Man forced me to go running with him and I temporarily died. But this is so much better if it’s fresh out of the pan.)

506 Comments and 68 Replies

I made this tonight and now I am flying through memories of meals with my grandma when I was a little girl. Helping her stir the flour and pepper mixture… stealing the egg noodles that were drying… the smell of savory and sweet alike. Oh, oh, oh… what a wonderful evening! Thanks for this recipe!

Elizabeth On Sunday, August 29 at 9:34 am

We make this all the time, and sometimes I throw in all the left over flour, add milk and make a milk gravy to go with the meat. My husband’s eyes light up when I forgo the “healthy” method and make this extra treat!

Be still my growling stomach. This is one of my favorite comfort foods evah. The only thing my momma did extra was to make a yummy brown gravy (leaving in the crunchy bits) and homemade biscuits. Thanks for reviving a great food memory.

407

Debbie On Sunday, August 29 at 4:35 pm

Oh, thank you for the trip down memory road. Cube steak was fairly common for us growing up. I vaguely remember referring to it as the particle board of beef, but we loved it. This is pretty much how it was made in our house, with loads of pepper in the flour and loads more on the finished product. My favorite way to have cube steak was cold leftovers between two pieces of white bread. Oh yum.

408

Patsy Johnson On Sunday, August 29 at 4:46 pm

Cream gravy, yum. Also, great if using deer or elk steak. Yum.

409

MAry On Sunday, August 29 at 5:28 pm

We have this about once every 2 weeks, it is the one beef dish my daughter will eat. I make mine in my cast iron dutch oven and make a rue and gravy from the drippings then add the steak back in and slow cook it and the steaks just melt in your mouth! Mmmm good- dinner tomorrow!

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kimberlysueh10 On Sunday, August 29 at 5:50 pm

WOW! I just gained major points with my boyfriend. He is from WV and I think I just learned the way to his tummy with this recipe. Thank you PW for bring me back to the simple ways of cooking. Many blessings, Kimberly

411

Connie On Sunday, August 29 at 5:54 pm

Just had the steak with the crash hot potatoes and a salad. Delicious!!!! Thank you for the great recipes!!

Ree–I must blame this on someone, so today, it’s gotta be you. I haven’t cooked cube steak in several years. Because, with cube steak one must also have mashed potatoes, peas and rolls. But, yesterday I made my hubby a happy man. Cube steak for lunch. And, man, was it good!!! Heck, it can’t be any worse than a hundred other things we eat all the time, so, I say, Cube Steak for President!!

Nicole On Saturday, December 4 at 5:11 pm

wowzers, I was scouring around other sites for a recipe to cook my eye round steaks with and opened your site an VIOLA!! This was sitting on the first page, THANK YOU. I am cooking this tonight with rice and gravy and YOUR rosemary dinner rolls!!

417

Vicki On Sunday, August 29 at 10:03 pm

I thought I was the only person who cooked fried steak that way and loved it the next day on bread with mayo and lots of pepper. Twins separated at birth. At least taste-wise.

418

trish On Sunday, August 29 at 11:19 pm

Made this for dinner and while the family was initially skeptical, they know “Pioneer Woman never lets us down.” Excellent fast throw-together meal after a busy Sunday.

419

Lupo Lobo On Monday, August 30 at 6:24 am

This dish is wonderful. Where I come from it is chicken fried steak – but it is the West Texas variant. I do serve it with milk gravy and lots of fresh cracked black pepper. Deep fried and battered would be what I consider the East Texas variant. Both are great but I did grow up on the West Texas style.

420

Bernie On Monday, August 30 at 6:32 am

When I saw the first picture, I thought “eeewww” I can skip this one. But you asked us to trust you, so I kept reading. I may actually have to try this. I never had a cubed steak that I liked, but I’m willing to try it. I trust you, because I too, think that Miracle Whip is from the devil……

I can’t think of anything else men would love more than fried red meat!

423

Steph H On Monday, August 30 at 10:21 am

Our family recipe takes it a few steps further:

Put round steaks in roaster pan. In the same pan you fried the round steaks in, saute sliced onions. Put them over steaks in roaster. In same pan, mix 1 can cr mushroom soup and 3/4 can milk or half and half. When blended, pour over steaks and onions.

Bake 350 degrees 45 min-1 hr until tender & bubbly.

Comfort food to the max

424

Kim D. On Monday, August 30 at 10:28 am

Since cube steak can sometimes be tough, I do it the way my mama taught me: Fill a roasting pan with a about a 1/4 inch of water and cookie rack; lay the meat on the rack cover with foil and steam in the a 325-350 degree oven for as long as you have (up to 1 1/2 hours!) The longer you steam, the more tender it is-you can cut it with your fork!

425

LadyG On Monday, August 30 at 12:01 pm

ahhh…cube steak – YUM!!!!!! i haven’t made it exactly this way…but it’s now on my next menu

426

Aulii On Monday, August 30 at 12:49 pm

I made this for my husband and if he wore a skirt it would have flown up he liked it so much. Of course, if he wore skirts I am not sure he would have been the right man for me not that I have anything against skirt wearing men you understand? I’ll stop digging myself a verbal hole now. Anyway, the fried round steak and smashed potatoes were a big hit with the man in my life…the one who most definately does not wear skirts.

427

Darlene On Monday, August 30 at 12:52 pm

I made this for Sunday dinner last night with the Crash Hot Potatoes and it was great… of course not something you eat everyday if you are a big couch potato … But it was yummy. I thought I was right smack dap in the 1950’s … Thanks for sharing.

428

Jack On Monday, August 30 at 1:15 pm

Nicely done, Ree. I’m starving now.

I would submit that the proper CFS (chicken fried steak) is coated in an egg/milk bath and then slathered in crushed crackers, adorned with side of cream gravy and a nice side of Worcestershire sauce. mmmm

Love you, your fam, your dogs, and your bloggy blog.

Jack in KC (who is still waiting for fried fruit pies coverage)

429

Julie C. On Monday, August 30 at 2:57 pm

I grew up eating this, with mushroom gravy poured over the top after browning, and the “minute steak” allowed to simmer in it for a bit. I think it’s delicious, and so do my kiddos!

Probably not the first to mention this but THANK YOU SOOO MUCH for clarifying there is a difference between mayonnaise and miracle whip….mayonnaise is wonderful and delicious and I am so glad to “meet” another person who loves it instead of the cursed miracle whip

431

Lisa O On Monday, August 30 at 5:13 pm

I made this for dinner tonight… BOTH of my picky meat eaters loved it! Thanks for another delicious meal for my family!

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Laura On Monday, August 30 at 5:53 pm

I just found out that the two most common cuts of beef used to make cube steak are lower in fat per ounce than skinless dark meat chicken! Suddenly, this recipe doesn’t sound so bad for me! I bought a package of cube steak at the grocery store this afternoon, and can’t wait until I make this for dinner tomorrow.

433

Kathleen On Monday, August 30 at 6:55 pm

I’ve been a cookin’ for 32 years and have NEVER been able to cook a good fried steak. Not anymore. This was deliciousness at its best. And this Southern cook made a big pan of gravy outta the pan drippins’. Served mine with mashed potatoes and broccoli casserole. Thought we should have a vegetable in there with all that gravy!!

434

Pam On Monday, August 30 at 7:10 pm

My Mom always dip this in buttermilk then flour, gives it a different flavor. And love it cold!!!

435

Belinda B On Tuesday, August 31 at 9:14 am

YUM! Nice to know there are others in this world that know the great comfort of fried cubed steak! My family likes it best with mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and sliced onions that have been steamed on top of the steak as it cooks. Then fried just a little in the skillet when the steaks come out.

436

Lisa W. 1969 On Tuesday, August 31 at 10:44 am

Just made this for my husband and son last night…they LOVED it. So simple!

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Lisa On Tuesday, August 31 at 8:11 pm

I made this tonight and it was SO yummy! My husband said he wants it regularly. Best of all, the meat cost about $4, total. Love you!

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Maria On Tuesday, August 31 at 11:11 pm

Please do not, I repeat, do not make gravy with cream of mushroom soup. Yuk! Why would anyone desecrate such a tasty piece of meat with that foul stuff. Just as easy to make gravy from scratch. Miracle whip = double yuk; cream of mushroom soup = triple yuk!

We raise beef cattle and 3 sons. Over the years I could probably write a book on 101 ways to cook with beef! Ha, I’m sure you understand that. I fry round steak too, but haven’t used the seasoned salt and pepper like you. I’ll have to give that a try. One thing my guys love with it is a honey mustard dip. When you live away from groceries I think you come up more creative ways to use what you have on hand.and that’s what I did with this dip. I simply squirt honey and mustard together by sight not measurements and stir. I’m sure it’s more honey than mustard. It will turn glossy. Now we can not eat fried steak without the honey mustard dip. It’s a favorite. I usually serve mashed potatoes and peas with ours.

440

Linda On Wednesday, September 1 at 9:46 am

I made this last night. I’m singing for joy this morning. I’m originally from Boston, I know about cooking country fried steak about as much as I know about quantam physics. However, I do love to eat it. I’ve tried and tried many recipes over the years and was never happy with the results. Until now.

This was so incredibly easy, even this ‘ol yankee got it. Thanks Ree.

441

Melissa On Wednesday, September 1 at 10:20 am

I must have led a sheltered life- I have never heard of this! It looks really umm fried. I’ll give it a go though, after a long run!

442

Marty On Wednesday, September 1 at 12:18 pm

Ree, you are now officially my husband’s hero! He is a lover of all things fried (wait, aren’t all men born that way?) and he loves him some round steak. I will be trying your recipe soon. Honestly, I think I could fry cardboard and if it had a crispy crust I do believe he would love it! Love those crispy crumblies. I read your blog almost every day and usually have a great laugh or a few tears or copy one of your recipes to try. Many thanks for bringing your personality to the Web- your sense of humor is SO like mine!!

443

Daisy Doll On Wednesday, September 1 at 9:23 pm

Good Lord, look at that deliciousness!!
Growing up, my mom used to take this cut of meat but make it into “Swiss Steak”–browned in the pan, lots of water, and then she made some kind of gravy with it. ICK!! Talk about something that “doesn’t chew.” I grew up in PA.
But after a trip to the South and trying Country Fried Steak made just like this, I fell in love with it. As a matter of fact, this was on my breakfast plate at IHOP this past Saturday…

444

Melissa J Hardy On Thursday, September 2 at 9:35 am

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this! My mom taught me the very same recipe a long time ago and I make it all the time. Garlic salt makes it great!! I also will throw some water in the pan when the meat is pretty much cooked and then add some of the flour from the palte to it kind of scramble it around, cook the meat a few more minutes and then remove the meat and stir around the flour some more to make gravy out out is…..it’s heaven. It soaks up the butter and all the seasonings and it’s thick and I plop a big pile of it ontop the meat and it just works. so easy and so good!!!!

445

Janan Welch On Thursday, September 2 at 9:40 am

Made this for my family last night with Potatoes au gratin. Loved every bit of it. Everybody. All four kiddos and the hubby. delicious.

I made this with gravy, mashed potatos and english peas (the small Lesuer kind). When I plate it up I put a serving of mashed potatos,used the back side of my spoon to make a bowl like indention and then put a generous portion of english peas on top of my potatos, then top it off with gravy. Put my cubed steak covered in gravy on the plate beside my potato, english peas and gravy mound. Its the only way I ever eat english peas!

447

Shari On Thursday, September 2 at 2:07 pm

Wednesdays are my hubby’s day to make dinner, as it’s his day off from work!

He & our 10 year old made these last night along with some Smashed Potatoes – it was delightful and gobbled up by everyone! Thanks for the recipe!

448

Deb On Thursday, September 2 at 3:23 pm

Can’t wait to make tonight, looks so yummy. Thank you for all your recipes. I love the pictures and the notes you put. My family loves them all so far, I think I am going to cook all your recipes until I am done. I am on day 4 and working on polishing off the best sheet cake ever, before anyone else gets home.

449

Becky On Friday, September 3 at 6:18 am

I cut my steak into strips, prepare it the same way but then add soy sauce and snow pea pods at the end and serve over rice as stir fry!

Made this last weekend with the Crash Hot Potatoes for my hubby and little brother. I believe they enjoyed it, because it was all gone. Even my little one year old boy ate some, and loved it. The potatoes were AWESOME!! Definately will make this one part of my repertoire!

Cindy F. On Friday, September 3 at 12:23 pm

Thanks for the tip for when you can’t find cubed steak. Sometimes it isn’t there, and sometimes it costs a fortune!

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Hillary T On Saturday, September 4 at 11:50 am

I made this yesterday and served it on bread (I used buttermilk instead of white) We packed the sandwiches along with the layered salad for our picnic dinner at an outdoor concert. It was a perfect combo! And my whole family enjoyed it! I can always count on Pioneer Woman for great recipes!
Thanks!

Ive been lurking on your site, but haven’t commented until now. I love to look for unique recipes and cooking ideas. We eat a ton of wild game, so I am always looking for fresh ideas. Thank you…Ill be back!

456

Eleatha On Monday, September 6 at 7:10 pm

I made this tonight and it was delicious:) I hope it is just has good leftover – we’ll see tomorrow!!

Dear Ree – please allow me to call you by name as I feel like we are friends though at a distance! Tried the minute steaks this week and after nearly 39 years of marriage they turned out very, very good. It was a cut of beef I had given up on ever eating again, but with your lessons and tricks it will be made again! Thank you. But tonight I also made the Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings. Omigosh. Talk about good. This will be made alot this fall! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

458

Miriam Middaugh On Tuesday, September 7 at 9:42 am

I think I’m in love with you…

459

Kelly On Wednesday, September 8 at 3:56 pm

This is exactly how my mom and I do our cf steak. Great comfort food. I love the white bread with butter for sandwiches too. My mom would make these and when we traveled to away football games in highschool this was our favorite supper to take along.

460

Wendy On Thursday, September 9 at 10:18 am

Holy Mary, Mother of God! I made this last night after drooling over the pictures since you first posted this recipe. Being a child of the 60’s, I channeled my Grandmother’s take on balancing a meal and served this with mashed potatoes and corn. My 10 year old licked the plate. Thankfully, the blinds were shut and only the dog and I witnessed this behavior. As her punishment, I’m making it again tonight – only this time I’m substituting buttered noodles for the mashed potatoes. Thank you for bringing the joy of cube steaks into my life. You should be sainted.

Sadly my redneck does not like chicken fried steak in any shape or form… I’ve even tried this route… I bet it is because he was born in N.M. lol

462

Don On Monday, September 13 at 10:31 am

We went to a nephew’s wedding in upstate New York. It was a gorgeous fall day.

463

wannabe On Tuesday, September 14 at 6:44 pm

Ree,

We tried this. Although, it did taste good, I was disappointed. I’m just not a fan of cube steak. It is such a tough cut of meat, even “tenderized.” I don’t know why or how people stand it.

464

Jennifer On Wednesday, September 15 at 8:43 pm

Ree~ I made this tonight, it was SO good. There is a place out here in Portland OR that my boyfriend LOVES for chicken fried steak, usually when we go out to breakfast. It now has competition! He really really enjoyed it, I did make a gravy with the drippings, we had it with mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. Perfect comfort food, on a day that turned very rainy… Bring on Winter!! So far every recipe I’ve made of yours has been a HIT!

465

Wendy On Friday, September 17 at 8:54 am

Ree – Hey there! Can I flour the meat ahead of time to save time when the dinner rush is upon me? Just relocated to Katy, TX from Chicago and I am told by my family that I MUST learn how to cook beef. Baby steps…

466

Taunyl On Friday, September 17 at 6:44 pm

Exactly the way I’ve always made it, ” except the butter ” Tomorrow nite we’re trying something
new! Sandwich… never even entered my mind… always potatos and country gravy from the pan leftover goodies… kay we’ll come up with a way to use the gravy too… gotta have it

467

Denise On Friday, September 17 at 9:49 pm

Ree,
I am 54years old and I grew up on this. I am not sure where this originated but my mother never used a recipe in her life. She lived in central LA and my father was from Memphis. Anyway, as a child I remember my mother making two sets or more of everything. There were 5 of us. As I child, I did not like gravy. So, she made mine just like you are making yours. Some of my older siblings had already developed the taste for gravy. After she had taken my plain steak out, she would saute onions in the oil and then make a beef gravy and return the steaks to the gravy to cook. Incidentally, she and now I would buy round steak and tenderize it. Is that the same as minutes steaks? Of course, mashed potatoes for all that yummy gravy and whatever green veggie she had. I can tell you that today, when I ask my grown children what they what for a special occasion they say country fried steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, biscuits and whatever green you feel the need for. My children, as a rule, eat healthy, but this is their splurge. Thank you for sharing.

468

Patti On Sunday, September 19 at 9:52 am

I’m a Texas girl and really didn’t think anyone else cooked or ate like this outside of my little world. Woo hoo. When I saw you put it into a sandwich, I lost it because that is how I always eat the leftovers, miracle whip and all! I might have to go buy some round steak today – never seen cube steaks here in GA but I do own a pointed meat mallet! I also like cream gravy on top of fried round steak. Yep, it’s cowboy food, yum yum~

T.Curtis On Sunday, October 3 at 10:18 pm

Patti, don’t know where you are in Ga, but I am in Jesup (SE) and we have cube steaks in our grocery stores… hope you can find them. So much easier than having to pound them yourself.

469

Beke On Wednesday, September 22 at 2:10 pm

Miracle whip IS from lucifer! it is!

470

chibiev On Friday, September 24 at 6:17 pm

This was delicious and simple! Next time I’ll be a bit more careful, because I burned myself on the oil.

471

T.Curtis On Sunday, October 3 at 10:16 pm

I’m SO glad I’m not the only one who despises Miracle Whip!!! I just came home from living /working away from my family the last year and a half. First thing I asked my mom (and I am 43) was for cube steak. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. I just winged it and tried it once, but wasn’t nearly as good as my mom’s but I think I just might go get some cube steaks tomorrow and try this!

472

Moebaby On Thursday, October 7 at 2:13 pm

Thank you so much for reminding me about this one. I used to fix this all the time but we have been eating more chicken than beef due to the lower prices. I fixed this yesterday and, as always, my family loved it. It was very fast too. I don;t start cooking until 8pm because of football practice.

473

Tena D On Friday, October 8 at 5:01 pm

Hey Ree,
This is also a great, and I do mean great, way to do deer steak.
Daddy is having that in heaven right now!

474

Catherine On Monday, October 18 at 7:53 pm

Made the steak part tonight-yum! Then used some milk and the left over flour mixture to fry some onion rings!

475

Sheila On Monday, October 25 at 11:25 am

Where’s the gravy???? You fry minute steak and don’t make gravy!!?? We also love potatoes with this AND green beans!! And maybe a biscuit… I make my Mom fix this for me everytime she visits or I go home.

476

Lorrie On Tuesday, October 26 at 10:59 pm

MMMmmmm. This is my all-time favorite meal and childhood memory. My mom standing in the kitchen in the hot Oklahoma summer cooking chicken fried steak to take to dad and the farmhands out in the fields for their lunch with tons of sweet iced-tea. I learned how to fix this like my grandma and mom. We use round steak and cut into pieces about the size of your palm. To tenderize, we use a little powder meat tenderizer then take a small flat saucer and hold it with a dish towel in your hand to help pad your palm then pound the steak all over with the edge of the saucer. Turn the steak over and pound the other side. This makes the steak so tender. Also, it is not healthy, but adding a little bacon grease to your skillet will give you a flavor you won’t believe.

477

Jessica On Wednesday, October 27 at 8:51 am

I love this. We call it sticky steak at our house!

478

Elaine On Wednesday, October 27 at 5:19 pm

We always make cube steak dipped in egg and then bread crumbs. I guess we do what our mothers did. We love it with white gravy.

479

Amanda On Thursday, October 28 at 11:57 am

MMM! I used this recipe last night for dinner. Thank You! All of us enjoyed it and had a clean plate:)

480

CubeSteakFan On Friday, October 29 at 8:27 pm

PW,

You are talking about one of my favorite foods here. I grew up eating this stuff and making sandwiches just like the one you describe here – except I never bothered with mayo and never bothered to slice it down the middle.

481

JenniB On Saturday, October 30 at 9:30 am

You forgot the best part! You HAVE to make gravy for the mashed potatoes!
It’s the best gravy in the world…
And it’s the way to my husband’s heart!! His favorite meal…doesn’t care if all he has is mashed potatoes, gravy and country fried steak! No veggies or dessert needed!!

This is undoubtedly a staple in our household. In Missouri we also call it cube steak, and I can’t imagine going to a grocery store and not being able to purchase it pre-pounded. I never thought about putting it on bread though, we always make it with white gravy or a mushroom gravy. Thanks for the easy sandwich idea!

483

winnie uffelmann On Tuesday, November 2 at 10:45 am

I made this on Sat….I loooooved it…. I packed one up for lunch today….I can’t wait to have lunch!

Holy cow! I just made this last night! And I was thinking, “I should blog about this…” but my thought process went further and sabotaged me. “Oh, nobody wants to read how to put flour on a steak and fry it.” Oops. It would seem they certainly do.

487

Kim Wilson On Wednesday, November 3 at 2:14 pm

We love this! Thanks for posting. I’ve made it 3 times in the last 3 weeks, although the last 2 times, I’ve also made white gravy. YUMMMMM!!!! We had it for dinner last night and I really want it again.

488

Cristina On Wednesday, November 10 at 11:01 am

I just discovered your website, Pioneer Woman, and I’m LOVING it! Thanks for this recipe. I always have cube steaks in my freezer, because they’re so economical, but my chicken friend steaks don’t come out right. I’m sure I can pull of this recipe, and my husband will love it!

489

Sherry from Austin On Monday, November 15 at 6:27 pm

After a horrendous day, I made this for dinner tonight, with cream gravy and mashed potatoes…..can I just say it was a beautiful thing and I feel much better now??! Thanks Ree, you rock!

490

Monica O'Keefe On Tuesday, November 16 at 1:00 pm

I made this for dinner one night for my son and husband. The work/reward ratio is off the charts. I had no idea a good meal could be so easy and make my family so happy! This web site has changed our lives and my perception on cooking.

491

Amy On Tuesday, November 16 at 4:32 pm

I’m making this tonight! It looks so good!

492

tracy sayles On Wednesday, November 17 at 12:17 am

I make this fried steak the exact same way, but I like to simmer the steak in a can of golden mushroom soup for about 30 mins after I fry it. Soooooo yummy!!

493

Sheila On Thursday, November 18 at 3:28 pm

“For Miracle Whip is from Lucifer.”
LOL I totally agree! This recipe takes me back to my childhood. My father had passed away and my Mom would make fried round steak a couple of times a week since it was cheap. She’d make pan gravy from the drippings and we’d eat it with mashed potatoes. It made great sandwitches the next day! (MAYO on mine, the satanic Miracle Whip on hers.)

Thanks for the walk down memory lane, Bree!!

Sheila On Thursday, November 18 at 3:54 pm

Mike Wall On Thursday, November 18 at 9:43 pm

I gotta share a comment about cube steak. I cut it up in small pieces put in the crock pot, pour on a couple cans cream of mushroom and 5-6 hours on low. The LAZIEST cooking ever to turn out so very good! Do NOT knock it until you’ve tried it!

Lastly, I like this PW recipe but mine is touch every time if I cook it like this. How do you get it tender? I even re-pound it first too! ???

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Tori Kelley On Tuesday, November 23 at 11:12 pm

First lemme say I love Fried Round Steak! I would eat it everyday if I could. However, I live with the pickiest eater in the world…my dear husband. I tried my best to get him to indulge in country fried steak with no gravy because he will not touch gravy. I thought hey, it’s meat…Red meat at that! And fried! How can any redblooded Southern male turn his nose up at that? Well, he did…even tossed his piece out to the cats after taking a sniff of it and snarled his lip at it. Claimed it looked funny. I whimpered sadly at the loss of such a tasty morsel while he dined on a dinner of chocolate poptarts.

While I will agree that most people will succumb to the wonderful tastiness of fried round steak..I have to say that sadly it is not 100% foolproof. Course, my husband is a fool…I mean, the man won’t even eat cheese or pancakes!

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Jacquie On Thursday, November 25 at 10:47 am

Sometimes I do believe you grew up in my house and I just didn’t know it. I have made fried steak like this all my life, only I take it a step further. I pan fry onions in the same pan and then add 2 cups rice to the pan, brown slightly, and then add water(a little chicken broth is good too). Make sure to add more than what is called for, for that amount of rice. Then place your steak back on top of the rice, cover and let simmer until rice is done. This has been a family favorite for many years.

Oh my gosh, I made this last night and it was DELICIOUS! I am not a fan of steak of any kind and was skeptical when I made this… I ended up going back for seconds. Best steak I have ever eaten and made.

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Amanda On Sunday, December 5 at 8:28 pm

WOW, I never realized this was actually a recipe, I’ve always thought it was just cooking 101 like boiling water and butchering a chicken LOL We had this frequently growing up and I make it for my husband now, we either had it on top of white rice and then smothered in mushroom gravy (a can of Cream of Mushroom soup poured on top of the steaks at the end of cooking) or with fried ‘taters(with far too much garlic and onions) topped with milk gravy (BTW, I saw a few comments talking about how to make white[milk] gravy, and according to my grandma[the reason I can boil water and butcher chickens, and make round steak] the key to making gravy is all in “how you swivel your hips, and move your butt” when you stir =D…)

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kate On Thursday, December 9 at 10:08 pm

Was so excited about this dish and what a disappointment. It was so heavy……a must NOT make again.

This was exactly how I used to make Chicken Fried Steak. Well, except for the cube part. Dad would always buy thin sliced roundsteak and pound (or tenderize) it himself. Then, I stumbled upon Cooks Illustrated and used their ideas but my methods. First pound the flour into the steak. Then dip in buttermilk, then dip in a mixture of flour, cornstarch and baking powder (along with all the normal spices). Let sit in the fridge for about an hour before frying. O.M.G. I seriously thought I died and went to heaven The cornstarch and baking powder create a crispy golden crust on the steak that is AWESOME. It’s not alot of cornstarch…maybe 1/2 cup to 2 cups flour and 1 Tbs baking powder.